Which spaniel is the official state dog of South Carolina?

The Boykin Spaniel is the official state dog of South Carolina.

This medium-sized brown spaniel was developed by South Carolina hunters for retrieving waterfowl and hunting wild turkeys. Its origins are linked to a small stray spaniel-type dog called Dumpy, found near Spartanburg around 1900 and later sent to hunter and breeder Lemuel Whitaker Boykin near Camden. The breed took the Boykin family name as it was developed for work in the state’s swamps and waterways.

The Boykin’s compact size was practical: hunters wanted a dog small enough to ride in a boat while still being an effective flushing and retrieving companion. Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Springer Spaniels, Cocker Spaniels, American Water Spaniels, and pointing breeds are reported to have influenced its development.

South Carolina officially designated the Boykin Spaniel in 1985. September 1 is also observed as Boykin Spaniel Day, following a 1984 proclamation. The breed is sometimes nicknamed the “Swamp Poodle” or “Little Brown Dog,” but neither nickname identifies a different state breed.